Rookie running back Le'Veon Bell joins crowded Steelers backfield

Asked if he was sending a message by having rookie running back Le'Veon Bell take snaps with the first team at the end of his third practice as a professional football player earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach failed to fight back a smile as he answered.

The Steelers went 55-25 during Gay's first five seasons on the team. With the Cardinals, it was a much different feeling. "Going 5-11, you kind of know that you're not making the playoffs," Gay said. "So, yeah, you could say that's a vacation."

"None," Mike Tomlin said before quickly adding, "but I'm sure you guys will run with it, so go ahead."

Even though the team signed restricted free agents Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman to one-year tenders, there's little doubt the 21-year-old Bell has a future lining up behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Redman and Dwyer are simply hoping to hold off that future for as long as they can.

Each worked aggressively in the offseason to shed weight, hoping slimmer waistlines would lead to a heavier workload. Dwyer estimates he dropped 25-30 pounds while Redman cut 15 pounds off his 6-foot frame.

The issue isn't necessarily production, but persistence. Every step forward for both players has been met by a step back. Dwyer posted consecutive 100-yard games last October only to go down with a hamstring injury. Redman responded by piling up a career-high 147 yards in a victory over the Giants but was ineffective a week later against the Chiefs and collected just 26 carries total over the final seven games.

Bell is younger, taller (6-2) and more versatile than either of the two players he's competing again. In addition to leading the nation with 383 carries last fall at Michigan State, he also caught 32 passes. After spending most of the last four years sending Mendenhall on the field on first and second down and bringing him out in true passing situations, Bell gives the Steelers a well-rounded option.

"I'm just going to compete," Bell said. "I've been competing from day one. Just make those other guys better, make the other running backs better, and at the same time they're going to make me better. I'm going to help this team the best that I can and get a Super Bowl."

Each year, in full gear, training camp includes a "back on backers" drill that pits a running back and a linebacker against each other designed to simulate what happens when a back is required to pick up a blitz. On Monday Bell found himself lined up against first-round pick Jarvis Jones. Four times Jones hurtled his 245-pound frame at Bell. The fact they fought to a draw didn't go unnoticed.

"I'm sure they'll continue to see more of each other," Tomlin said.

While Tomlin appears to be impressed by Bell's quick grasp of the offense, he is serious when he says he'll wait to see how things play out before anointing a starter for Week 1 against Tennessee.

"You would like a known feature guy," he said. "I think everybody is of that mentality, but it's got to be something that's taken by someone."